More Defence suspensions for email ring

DEFENCE has revealed another five army personnel have been suspended for their involvement with an email ring allegedly distributing sex films, as it attempts to crack down on sexism and misbehaviour.

The latest suspensions add to three army members already suspended for their involvement in the matter including a high ranking lieutenant colonel.

They come just over a week after seven cadets were suspended for "drunken stupidity" in Canberra.

Defence force leaders have been working hard to stamp out unacceptable conduct.

Army chief Lieutenant-General David Morrison said members who thought sexism was ok should get out, after revealing the email ring scandal in June.

And in the wake of the cadets' suspension, Vice Chief of the Defence Force Air Marshal Mark Binskin said defence had made clear unacceptable conduct wouldn't be tolerated but there was still a minority who "just don't get it".

The defence department said on Monday the five new suspensions stemmed from a major ongoing probe by the Australian Defence Force Investigative Service.

Lieutenant-General Morrison revealed in June more than 100 people were being investigated over the exchange of explicit and "profane" material that is demeaning to women.

Defence is not releasing any details about the five members suspended this week, including refusing to confirm whether they are all men.

About 10 women - ADF members, public servants and members of the public - had been identified as victims in incidents dating back to 2010.

Defence has remained tight-lipped about details but Lieutenant-General Morrison described it as worse than the 2011 Skype scandal in which an Australian Defence Force Academy cadet secretly broadcast to mates footage of himself having sex with a fellow cadet.

But media reports suggest the email scandal centres on a group of army officers, styling themselves as the "Jedi Council", who visited nightclubs in Sydney's Kings Cross to meet women for consensual sex.

The reports allege the officers filmed themselves having sex with the women, before sending images to dozens of their colleagues across the country.

Another 90 mostly serving army members are still being investigated over the matter.

The Army may consider further suspensions depending on the investigation's results.

NSW Police were also investigating potential criminal offences by the three army personnel suspended in June.

That inquiry has now finished and police have presented a brief to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecution.

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